MONROE - Placing a probation on the liquor license for Friendly Inn until June 30, 2010, is intended to "send a message" to the community, according to members of the city's licensing committee.
The City of Monroe License Committee in a hearing Wednesday sent the Monroe City Council the recommendation, which was reached jointly by attorneys, but the committee did not unanimously agree to it.
Police Chief Fred Kelley filed the complaint of a liquor license violation under city code, stemming from a Feb. 17 state Justice Department search of Friendly Inn, 1335 17th St., which turned up completed raffle entry slips and other gambling and raffle documents at the bar.
Richard Schindler, part owner of the bar and the license holder, did not speak during the hearing, but was represented by Attorney Scott Thompson at the hearing in City Hall.
Thompson described Schindler's conduct as a business owner for the past 28 years as "absolutely stellar," and said the probation was a "shot across the bow" to other liquor license holders.
On Jan. 12, an undercover agent went to the bar and paid a $100 entry fee for a gun raffle. Brian Withrow, supervisor with the Wisconsin Division of Gaming, Charitable Raffle, told investigators the owners had not applied for a raffle license through the state.
In court documents filed March 17 in Green County Circuit Court, the state has asked for more than $3,000 collected by Christopher R. Schindler during a gun raffle and also from a Super Bowl pool conducted in February.
According to the complaint, $3,313 was collected "through the commission of crimes of gambling and an illegal lottery."
Schindler did not contest the circumstances of the violation.
"Probation is appropriate," Thompson said.
Committee Chairman Thurston Hanson and member Charles Schuringa voted to recommend to council to accept the agreement.
Member Charles Koch sought a three-month suspension of the license, and voted against the motion to accept the attorneys' agreement.
The committee's recommendation will go to a full council vote May 5.
Koch argued the violation of the license was "willfully" committed, and not a "gray area" of the law.
"Probation is not enough. ... When it's a known violation of city ordinance, I can't go for probation," Koch said. "Rich has been a good businessman and citizen of Monroe, but there are just too many violations."
Hanson and Schuringa argued on the grounds that suspension would cause an economic hardship on the business, should it be forced not to serve alcoholic beverages as opposed to some type of probation.
"We're dealing with people's livelihoods," Schuringa said. "With the economy, suspension is going to come into a lot of that. Three months down the line, regulars who go there, don't go there anymore."
Other bar owners will notice the probation, Hanson said.
"Whether the police see them or somebody else ... without a suspension of license, they have all the eyes of Monroe on them," Hanson said. "There's going to be everybody's eyes (on them)."
Kelley stated the establishment had no other complaints against it, except for a noise-loud music complaint, which Kelley said was resolved with Schindler. The current liquor license is due to run out June 30, 2009, but could be renewed until June 30, 2010.
The City of Monroe License Committee in a hearing Wednesday sent the Monroe City Council the recommendation, which was reached jointly by attorneys, but the committee did not unanimously agree to it.
Police Chief Fred Kelley filed the complaint of a liquor license violation under city code, stemming from a Feb. 17 state Justice Department search of Friendly Inn, 1335 17th St., which turned up completed raffle entry slips and other gambling and raffle documents at the bar.
Richard Schindler, part owner of the bar and the license holder, did not speak during the hearing, but was represented by Attorney Scott Thompson at the hearing in City Hall.
Thompson described Schindler's conduct as a business owner for the past 28 years as "absolutely stellar," and said the probation was a "shot across the bow" to other liquor license holders.
On Jan. 12, an undercover agent went to the bar and paid a $100 entry fee for a gun raffle. Brian Withrow, supervisor with the Wisconsin Division of Gaming, Charitable Raffle, told investigators the owners had not applied for a raffle license through the state.
In court documents filed March 17 in Green County Circuit Court, the state has asked for more than $3,000 collected by Christopher R. Schindler during a gun raffle and also from a Super Bowl pool conducted in February.
According to the complaint, $3,313 was collected "through the commission of crimes of gambling and an illegal lottery."
Schindler did not contest the circumstances of the violation.
"Probation is appropriate," Thompson said.
Committee Chairman Thurston Hanson and member Charles Schuringa voted to recommend to council to accept the agreement.
Member Charles Koch sought a three-month suspension of the license, and voted against the motion to accept the attorneys' agreement.
The committee's recommendation will go to a full council vote May 5.
Koch argued the violation of the license was "willfully" committed, and not a "gray area" of the law.
"Probation is not enough. ... When it's a known violation of city ordinance, I can't go for probation," Koch said. "Rich has been a good businessman and citizen of Monroe, but there are just too many violations."
Hanson and Schuringa argued on the grounds that suspension would cause an economic hardship on the business, should it be forced not to serve alcoholic beverages as opposed to some type of probation.
"We're dealing with people's livelihoods," Schuringa said. "With the economy, suspension is going to come into a lot of that. Three months down the line, regulars who go there, don't go there anymore."
Other bar owners will notice the probation, Hanson said.
"Whether the police see them or somebody else ... without a suspension of license, they have all the eyes of Monroe on them," Hanson said. "There's going to be everybody's eyes (on them)."
Kelley stated the establishment had no other complaints against it, except for a noise-loud music complaint, which Kelley said was resolved with Schindler. The current liquor license is due to run out June 30, 2009, but could be renewed until June 30, 2010.